Homer & Langley is E. L. Doctorow's re-imagining of a true New York story that spans several decades beginning in the thirties. Homer is blind while Langley is insane and together the brothers are just insanely blind. The story, interspersed with historical references and cultural shifts, is narrated by Homer, the younger of the two, who though blind as a bat is acutely perceptive to tell in details their slow descend from riches to rags voluntarily and inevitably after the passing of their well-to-do parents. The narrative is exceedingly dignified and beautifully poignant, in the end one is left with no choice but to sympathize with the brothers even they were to die in their own filth tragic comedically.
Notes:
p. 139. "I will not here detail the ... " It seems like the editor is asleep.
p. 116 "It's no different than always, said Massimo." Massimo is the son of a gangster so he may not be speaking grammatically "correct" English. As such he doesn't say "different from" so it may be intentional and not a mistake after all. Still, I can't get over it.
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